Climate outlook expects a warm start to winter

CLEVELAND - The Climate Prediction Center expects a warm start to the winter of 2012.

In their latest three month outlook issued on Thursday, climatologists says temperatures are expected to continue an above normal trend over a large part of the nation.

The best chances for wamer than normal temperatures will occur over much of the Midwest and Ohio Valley.

On the precipitation side, the outlook is showing near normal amounts of rain and snow for much of the country, including Ohio. The only areas above normal will occur over the Southeast, while the Pacific Northwest will likely be drier than normal.

Another El Nino cycle could develop this winter as sea level temperatures have warmed over the Pacific Ocean near the equator and could become a factor in the warmer than normal patterns expected this winter.